True Stories: Adventures in Mothering!
(A New Section to the MOPS Newsletter)
On one particularly glorious afternoon early this summer I took the opportunity of an open schedule book to get in an extra workout at the YMCA. We ventured a little off course, and for excitement, went to a different YMCA location than we usually attend. I had no idea how grateful I would soon become for this anonymity.
I had wrapped up a truly satisfying, sweaty workout and was headed to the showers with a clean, fluffy towel. It was then I heard it, the dreaded Mommy page. I pulled one ear bud from my ear to hear the announcement as it was repeated and heard with dread, my name. I was being summoned to the kids stuff area. Oh. No.
I imagined that my daughter had peed and was standing there wet awaiting my arrival. Ladies, I cannot explain in a G rated newsletter the horror which awaited me that day. Minutes later, instead of basking in the hot rain of a good post workout shower, I found myself in a tiny bathroom, desperately trying to clean my daughter and her mess with chunks of shredding toilet paper (of-course I had brought no wipes!). Nearly in tears, I scooped up my stinky angel and wrapped her in my beautiful clean towel, heading for the showers with a pit stop at the desk to beg pity on a worker and score another clean towel. Not exactly the post workout shower I’d envisioned, but we both did manage to get cleaned up. Upon searching my bag for her clean clothes, I found a long t-shirt and underwear. No pants. It is simply not possible to remain inconspicuous and sneak quietly out of any building while being trailed by a howling, half naked preschooler still indignant from having to be rushed to the car w/ her Little Mermaid panties on display.
Once in the car I did what any Mom hoping to maintain her sanity would do…I speed dialed another MOPS mom friend and shared my story. These moments are best when shared with a friend who can help you laugh at yet another, Mommy Adventure.
(Author’s name withheld for sake of anonymity…if you have a “True Story Mommy adventure” to share, please email tonimariep@yahoo.com. Your identity will only be released upon your approval!)
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events:
September 11th 10 AM is our First Meeting of the year. Please come early if you still have to register! Mentor Moms Kim and Sally will introduce our theme for the year. We will also be doing an easy magnet craft that day.
September 25th MOPS meeting at 10am. Kim Carroll will speak on the “Roller Coaster: The 5 Love Languages.”
September 11th 10 AM is our First Meeting of the year. Please come early if you still have to register! Mentor Moms Kim and Sally will introduce our theme for the year. We will also be doing an easy magnet craft that day.
September 25th MOPS meeting at 10am. Kim Carroll will speak on the “Roller Coaster: The 5 Love Languages.”
September Prayer and Care
Prayer and Care:
MOPPPETS Infants/Creepers coordinator, Mary Gwinn, is recovering from an injury to her leg which has caused her to spend much time in the hospital and recovery. Please pray for her continued healing and that she will be able to join us at MOPS again soon!
Our Pregnant Moms:Jaycie Leistico & Dana Ringate (pls. let Toni Perrier know if you are expecting and not listed here so we can pray for you!).
New Babies:Welcome to the new moppets who will be joining us for the first time this year;
Jessie Ryan Smith was born July 28th at 10:58am. He was 8 lb. 8 oz. and was 20 ½ inches long! Jessie is our coordinator Kelly Smith’s 4th child.
Madaline Straka born on the fourth of July to mom. Courtney Straka.
MOPPPETS Infants/Creepers coordinator, Mary Gwinn, is recovering from an injury to her leg which has caused her to spend much time in the hospital and recovery. Please pray for her continued healing and that she will be able to join us at MOPS again soon!
Our Pregnant Moms:Jaycie Leistico & Dana Ringate (pls. let Toni Perrier know if you are expecting and not listed here so we can pray for you!).
New Babies:Welcome to the new moppets who will be joining us for the first time this year;
Jessie Ryan Smith was born July 28th at 10:58am. He was 8 lb. 8 oz. and was 20 ½ inches long! Jessie is our coordinator Kelly Smith’s 4th child.
Madaline Straka born on the fourth of July to mom. Courtney Straka.
SEPTEMBER NEWLSETTER COVER
CONTEST for a TITLE
First Baptist Church of Anoka MOPS
September 2008
Our theme this year is: Adventures in Mothering:
You supply the new newsletter name to win a prize!
Details at the September 11th MOPS meeting.
Time to Recharge!By Wendy Steffen
My house is filled with kids’ toys. Many of them, from the musical baby toys to the older kids’ electronic toys, use batteries. We go through A LOT of batteries in our house! For that reason, my family has discovered the wonderful world of ‘rechargeable’ batteries. These things are amazing! We even have 2 different kinds of chargers, the long 8 hour (overnight) charger, which prolongs the battery’s life and the quick 15-minute (rapid) charger, which rejuvenates them fast and makes the kids happy, when we are about to leave for a long car ride and their Leapster says “Time to change the batteries.”
There is only one flaw with rechargeables; they actually lose their charge even if they are not being used. You can charge them up and stick them in a drawer for future use, but they start to discharge at the rate of up to 1% per day. Rechargeable batteries are a little bit like moms. During our hectic times, we go and go until we are all used up and done in. And even during times where our mommy lives aren’t overly challenging, we still seem to discharge a little bit every day until one day, we are completely depleted.
We all need to be recharged by God. We don’t stay at 100%, but need to constantly be recharged to stay faithful to Him. He will sustain you and keep you going, even when you feel you are all worn down, but you must devote time to plug in and be renewed by Him. Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” NLT Occasionally I get to plug into the long ‘overnight’ type charger. This could be a church women’s retreat or MOPS Convention. More often, (with my hectic mommy life) I plug into the 15 minute ‘quick charger’. This could be my few minutes during the day for devotions, the Sunday morning sermon from my pastor and even my bi-monthly MOPS Meeting.
MOPS’ goal is to encourage and equip mothers so that Christ can be glorified. God understood the importance of fellowship and encouraged us to spend time together. Hebrews 10:25 “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” NIV
So as we begin our new MOPS year, I want to encourage each of you to attend meetings and meet some new friends. Come often and let MOPS be a ‘quick charge’ for your (probably depleted) mommy batteries.
First Baptist Church of Anoka MOPS
September 2008
Our theme this year is: Adventures in Mothering:
You supply the new newsletter name to win a prize!
Details at the September 11th MOPS meeting.
Time to Recharge!By Wendy Steffen
My house is filled with kids’ toys. Many of them, from the musical baby toys to the older kids’ electronic toys, use batteries. We go through A LOT of batteries in our house! For that reason, my family has discovered the wonderful world of ‘rechargeable’ batteries. These things are amazing! We even have 2 different kinds of chargers, the long 8 hour (overnight) charger, which prolongs the battery’s life and the quick 15-minute (rapid) charger, which rejuvenates them fast and makes the kids happy, when we are about to leave for a long car ride and their Leapster says “Time to change the batteries.”
There is only one flaw with rechargeables; they actually lose their charge even if they are not being used. You can charge them up and stick them in a drawer for future use, but they start to discharge at the rate of up to 1% per day. Rechargeable batteries are a little bit like moms. During our hectic times, we go and go until we are all used up and done in. And even during times where our mommy lives aren’t overly challenging, we still seem to discharge a little bit every day until one day, we are completely depleted.
We all need to be recharged by God. We don’t stay at 100%, but need to constantly be recharged to stay faithful to Him. He will sustain you and keep you going, even when you feel you are all worn down, but you must devote time to plug in and be renewed by Him. Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” NLT Occasionally I get to plug into the long ‘overnight’ type charger. This could be a church women’s retreat or MOPS Convention. More often, (with my hectic mommy life) I plug into the 15 minute ‘quick charger’. This could be my few minutes during the day for devotions, the Sunday morning sermon from my pastor and even my bi-monthly MOPS Meeting.
MOPS’ goal is to encourage and equip mothers so that Christ can be glorified. God understood the importance of fellowship and encouraged us to spend time together. Hebrews 10:25 “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” NIV
So as we begin our new MOPS year, I want to encourage each of you to attend meetings and meet some new friends. Come often and let MOPS be a ‘quick charge’ for your (probably depleted) mommy batteries.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)